30 Days Down

We've finished 30 days of our 40 day fast from the grocery store.  I have documented the 4th week of meals, Hannah's wrap up of being head chef in the kitchen, but I still have to price it all out, and that is very tedious.  There is no real plan for the next ten days, other than we are not going to the grocery store, or the farmers market, or the dairy.  Eileen was right.  I should have quit at 30. This is no-man's land! And, i am terrified!

      

So, for now, let me tell you where we stand as far as what we have on hand -

Fresh Produce: 

Cucumbers

1.5 lbs Carrots

2 Cabbage

5 Onions

8 Multi-colored peppers

One half of a precious little bunch of cilantro

Dairy:

1 and 1/2 gallon 2% milk

1 qt egg nog

4 lbs butter

10 slices provolone

8 slices Munster

2 cups mozzarella

1 lb fresh feta

1 cup cream

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

Misc.:

Juice

Coconut milk

Mustard

Mayo

Salad dressing

Jam

Freezer:

2 loaves bread

Bananas

Spinach

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Green beans

Edamame

Pantry/Storage:

Canned - milk, peaches, pears, tomatoes, black/white/kidney beans

Dry goods - rice, wheat, flour, sugar, legumes, barley

Veggie oil, vinegar, peanut butter

Cake/corn bread mixes

50 lbs of pasta

8 boxes Mac & Cheese

20 packs ramen noodles 

2 bags of tortilla chips

Popcorn

Dried apples and bananas

Some almonds and cashews, maybe 2 lbs total

5 lbs honey

Other Stuff:

Potatoes, herbs and peppers from the garden

1 spaghetti squash, a few butternut squash

Eggs from the henhouse

Fresh Garlic & Ginger

Tons of Spices

Actually, now that I look at the inventory, I am not afraid.  We are going to be just fine.  I think being low on milk and cheese, not really having much in the way of snacky food, and having less fresh produce than we're used to makes me feel insecure.  Salad is usually a staple around here. But, seriously! Look how much food there is to feed our family!

KC, 16, is in charge for this two weeks+.  I am leaving town for one week of her stewardship in the kitchen. She gets no budget and can't go to the store until Saturday, November 15.  She is on deck from Nov 3-18th.  she gets an extra day because i will be gone.  So, she's planning on her wits and creativity alone for the first twelve days of the fifteen days in her meal prepping duties.  

Here's what she has planned for dinners.  I don't have pricing, but you can see it is all pretty cheap stuff.

Whole wheat waffles with sour cream sauce

Brocolli cheese soup 

Veggie Curry and rice x 2

Pasta and veggies x 2

Roasted veggies and bread

Saag Shorba - spinach soup 

Pizza 

Navajo tacos

Rice and bean burritos

Yakisoba and edamame (stir-fried ramen with veggies)

That is her 12 meals of No More Grocery Shopping.  She is not afraid.  this is KC, and this is not her first rodeo!

                      

After our 40 day fast is up, on November 14, she gets to finish her shift with a trip to the store and three days of who-knows-what-treasures procured from our local market (surely milk and salad greens will be on the list.) 

Today, though, and for the next 10 days, we are roughing it,  using only what's currently in the refrigerator and pantry.  Since people joke about eating lots of ramen when they are on a budget,  let me share our favorite ramen recipe with you.

                          

Yakisoba - Stir-Fried Ramen for 6, Under $0.40/serving

8 packs ramen noodles, par boiled - $0.80

1 med onion, diced $0.30

2 cups carrots, diced $0.30

2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced $0.30

2 tbsp canola oil - $0.10

3 tbsp soy sauce - $0.56

Fresh cilantro, sesame oil and siracha sauce as toppings, optional

$2.36

1. Open ramen packages, set flavor packets aside.  Bring large pot of water to a boil. 

2.  When water is boiling, add all the ramen together in the pot.  Par boil noodles until they are just cooked, but still a bit firm.  Drain, drizzle with oil to prevent noodles from clumping together.

3.  In a large frying pan or wok, sauté onions in oil over high heat.  As they are turning clear, add the carrots.  As carrots are beginning to soften, add the red cabbage and soy sauce, cook until all veggies are crisp but tender.  

4. Add noodles to sautéed veggies.  Stir in 5 of the 8 seasoning packets.  Serve hot with chili sauce, sesame oil or freshly sliced peppers and cilantro.

 

Hannah at the Helm - 11 Year-Old Girl Feeds Her Family All Week

Three weeks of No Grocery Shopping recorded, and it is tedious but enlightening.  Like, we had 4 days with per person totals of $2 or less when all ingredients are counted.  With three meals a day (okay, we can't necessarily call hot chocolate, for breakfast, a meal) that is some CHEAP eating.  Also, if kids are home for a long weekend, like they were this week, or any weekend, for that matter, we may or may not have breakfast and skip straight to lunch.

On the flip side of the frugal coin, we had some weekend cheats of eating out, NOT grocery shopping.  But, because we were so good the rest of the week it didn't throw our goal off at all financially.  Also, this was the cheapest week so far, coming in $11 under our first week and $30 less than the second.  I have a hypothesis about why this is the case and it has to do with our favorite resident novice sous chef, Hannah, who is also a proficient baker.

                           

"Mom, I want to learn to make things besides cakes and treats.  I love potato soup and I want to do this risotto I saw on Pinterest."  Hannah is 11, and always full of elaborate plans.

"Potato soup is a great idea.  Risotto is pretty tough to make.  I haven't even mastered a good risotto yet." I tell her.  I'm the mom who is always trying to temper her plans.  I think when she grows up she may use the word "stifled."

"But, look, it uses ingredients we always work with. Rice, garlic, tomatoes, sage, basil.  It can't be too hard.  Let's try it."

"Okay, put it on the menu." 

That was two weeks ago, and all week she has been looking forward to making ever since.  Then, when the day came to make the risotto, she nearly backed out because we were short on time.  Not wanting to stifle her creativity in the name of expediency I encouraged her to try it anyway.  It was not our best endeavor.  It was also not our worst.  On the scale of making Top Ramen and Boeuf Bourguignon, it comes in somewhere toward the upper end near Molten Lava Cakes.  I'm sure that italian short-grain arborio rice makes a difference, but went multi-cultural and used Japanese short-grain instead.  Though everyone enjoyed the risotto just fine, I don't think Hannah or I would call it worth it. You have to stir it almost the whole time for 30 minutes.  Bag that.  Even Martha Stewart has a no-stir recipe, and we might just check that out next time.

                              

Having an 11 year old at the helm for dinner means lots of days look like this.

"Ugh, I am so exauhsted.  I had so much going on today, and I don't even know what I am going to do for dinner." Oh, wait.  That was me.  Here's Hannah:

"Mom, I have dance tomorrow. Do you think I will have enough time between school and dance to make my potato soup?" She asks.

"Yep, you will have just enough time, if you hurry with your homework."  She did it.

Another day, "Mom, I have art and dance today.  What is on my list that is super quick and easy to make.  I know I am going to be dying when I get home?" 

We decided on the frittata.  And, she was really tired.  But, she did it anyway and I think this is one of the best lessons she's learning, and teaching me: Sometimes, 90% of the meal time battle is won just by having in your mind what you are going to make for dinner. 

As a reminder, here is what we were striving for according to the SNAP Challenge: 

Goal 

7 Day Family Total = >$157.50

7 Day Per Person Total = >$31.50

Actuals

Week 3 Family Total - $121.36

Week 3 Per Person Total $21.18

Now, go see how we did it. 

Day 15 Monday, October 20

Lunches - kids home DIY for 4

Mac & cheese - $1

pb&j $0.70

leftovers 

Milk $1

Family Lunch Total - $2.70

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.67

Dinner - for 9, Grandpa's Bday

Frozen Ravioli - $3

Homemade Pasta Sauce - $2

Tomato salad: 4 tomatoes from the garden $0.40, basil from garden $0.10,  1/2 cup feta cheese $0.75, olive oil  $0.15 - $1.40

Homemade bread - $1

From scratch chocolate cake - $2

Family Dinner Total - $9.40

Per Person Dinner Total - $1.04

Day 15 Family Total - $12.10

Day 15 Per Person Total -   $1.71

                         

Day 16 Tuesday, October 21

Breakfast - for 5

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal - $1.20

Milk - $0.15x5 - $0.75

Family Breakfast Total - $1.95

Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.39

Lunch - for 6

Sliced Apples - $3

Homemade Bread & 3 tbsp butter - $1

Leftover Pasta Sauce 

Family Lunch Total - $4

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.67

Dinner - for 6

Potatoes Cheese Soup

1 large onion, diced - $0.25

3 cloves garlic, minced - $0.15

4 tbsp butter - $0.37

6 medium potatoes, diced - $0.40

4 medium carrots, diced - $0.50

4 cups veggie broth - $2

2 cups milk - $0.30

2 tbsp corn starch - $0.05

1 cup cream + a splash - $1

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded - $2

1 tsp garlic powder - $0.05

2 tsp seasoning salt - $0.05

Homemade Whole wheat Tortilla Triangels - $0.15

Family Dinner Total - $7.27

Per Person Dinner Total - $1.21

Day 16 Family Total - $13.22

Day 16 Per Person Total - $2.27

                         

   

Day 17 Wednesday, October 22

Breakfast - for 4

Toast w/ butter and jam - $0.75

milk - $0.60

Family Breakfast Total - $1.35

Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.34

Lunch - for 6 

Potatoes - $0.40

Green Beans - $2

Applesauce - $0.50

Cupcake $0.55

Family Lunch Total - $3.45

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.57

Dinner - for 6

Macho Nachos

Chips - $2

2 cups Cheese - $2

2 cans beans $1

1 can rotel tomatoes $1

Homemade salsa - 6 med tomatoes $2, 1/2 bunch cilantro $0.30, 1/2 lrg onion $0.15, 1 spicy pepper $0.10 - $2.55

Family Dinner Total - $6.55

Per Person Dinner Total - $1.09

Day 17 Family Total - $11.35

Day 17 Per Person Total - $2

Day 18 Thursday, October 23

Breakfast - for 4

Milk/hot chocolate $0.15x3 = 0.45

Granola for 1 - $0.25

Family Breakfast Total - $0.70

Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.17

Lunch - for 6

Macho nachos revisited

All leftovers, all ingredients previously counted, except

1 cup cheese - $1

Family Lunch Total - $1

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.17

Dinner - for 5

Frittata

1 large onion, diced - $0.25

1/2 stick butter - $0.37

3 small tomatoes, diced - $1

2 potato hash-browns - $0.40

2 cups cauliflower florets, steamed - $1

9 eggs  - $0.90

1/2 cup shredded cheese - $0.50

Family Dinner Total - $4.42

Per Person Dinner Total - $0.88

Day 17 Family Total - $6.12

Day 17 Per Person Total - $1.22

Day 19 Friday, October 24

Breakfast - for 4

Toast w/ butter and jam - $0.75

milk - $0.60

Family Breakfast Total - $1.35

Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.34

Lunch - for 4

Mac & Cheese - $1

Family Lunch Total - $1

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.25

Dinner - Cheat!

Sandwiches for 6 from Jimmy Johns - 20.25

Family Dinner Total - $20.25

Per Person Dinner Total - $3.38

Day 19 Family Total - $22.60

Day 19 Per Person Total - $3.97

Day 20 Saturday, October 25

Breakfast - for 4

8 Eggs - $0.80

4 pieces of Toast - $0.40

Milk - $1

Family Breakfast Total - $2.20

Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.55

Lunch - for 7

Farmers Market Food

Korean Veggie Cup Bop - $11

Doughnuts $3

French Fries $6.50

Family Lunch Total - $20.50

Per Person Lunch Total - $2.92

Dinner - for 4

Date Night for 2 - pizza and dessert $13

Kids - Dinner for 2

Mac & Cheese $1, 1/2 lb Steamed Broccoli  $1, Ice Cream $1 - $3

Family Dinner Total - $16

Per Person Dinner Total - $4

Day 20 Family Total - $38.70

Day 20 Per Person Total - $7.47

Day 21 Sunday, October 26

Lunch - for 4

Ramen - 4 packs of ramen $0.40, 4 eggs $0.40

Family Lunch Total - $0.80

Per Person Lunch Total - $0.20

Dinner - for 8 with Great Grandma

Garlicky Herbed Risotto

1 large onion, diced - $0.25

4 cloves garlic, minced - $0.20

1/2 cup butter - $0.75

3 small tomatoes, diced - $1

3 cups rice $0.25

1 cup apple juice $0.20

5 cups veggie broth $1

Splash of cream - $0.20

2 tbsp basil, chopped - $0.10

2 tbsp sage, chopped -$0.20

1 cup mozzarella, shredded

Salt and pepper to taste

$4.15

                        

  

Spaghetti squash - free from the neighbor

4 cloves garlic, minced - $0.20

1/2 cup butter, melted - $0.75

Salt and pepper 

$0.95

                        

Butter Braised Garlic String Beans 

1 1/2 lbs green beans - $2

2 cloves garlic, minced - $0.10

4 tbsp butter - $0.37

Salt and pepper

$2.47

Super Easy Homemade Whole Wheat bread

3 cups warm water

1 Tablespoon dry yeast - $0.03

1 Tablespoon kosher salt - $0.02

6 1/2 cups whole wheat flour - $0.35

$0.40

Brownies from a mix - $1.50

Family Dinner Total - $9.47

Per Person Dinner Total - $1.18

Day 21 Family Total - $10.27

Day 21 Per Person Total - $1.38

Week 3 Family Sub-Total - $114.36

Week 3 Per Person Sub-Total - 20.02

Adjustments

So, I quit counting snacks because they are too hard to keep track of.  But, here is a list of snacks and additional groceries I know we went through this week that may not be accounted for in the previous listing.

Misc Additional Snack Items - for 5

1 bag choco chips - $1.67

1 bag tortilla chips - $2

1 batch homemade salsa - $2.55

1 gallon milk - $2.40

1 box Mac $ Cheese - $1

3 packs ramen - $0.30

6 eggs - $0.60

Family Misc. Total - $7

Per Person Misc. Total $1.16

Week 3 Family Total - $121.36

Week 3 Per Person Total $21.18

Final Reflections

I am making a pact with fresh cilantro now: I will never treat you badly again.  Also, fresh bread is great, but ready-to-go-store-bought-sandwhich-bread is REALLY nice to have around.  Butter, you are safe this week, but I have my eye on you.  So grateful for the dairy and the farmers market.  Salad is officially off the menu until the end of the experiment.  Lettuce can not be found in my house any more.

Farmers Market Find with a Recipe

In my quest for family meals under $5 I came up with this concoction.  Not beautiful, but everyone, Mom, Dad, teenagers, even our most discriminating palate enjoyed it.  $0.65 per person.  

Red cabbage is pretty much a super food.  Just a few ounces provide dozens of vitamins and minerals, is rich in antioxidants and other plant nutrients that support your digestive and cardiovascular systems.  You can read more about cabbage's exceptional qualities here.  

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=19

Also, it's super cheap averaging $.47/lb. 

Here's the recipe.  Great for any meal of the day!

                         

Red Cabbage Recipe

4 tbsp butter $0.38 

1 large onion, diced $0.40

4 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced $0.75

12  eggs, fried over-easy  $1.20

12 pieces of toast $1.20

$3.93/6=$0.65 per person

Sauté onion in butter until beginning to turn clear.  Add cabbage.  Sauté until tender.  In a separate pan, fry eggs over-easy and get bread toasting.  Butter toast and layer with cabbage mixture, then the egg.  Easy Peasy!  An 11 year old can make this recipe.